new word art...

New fabric word art ready for framing.

This one is very popular...

I wish everyone's home to be this space...

These lyrics are from one of my favourite songs.  Can you guess?

Imagine.  John Lennon

Better Homes & Gardens

Great magazine this month, guess who's inside???

Team Pennydale - turning a drab living room into an inviting space..

and here's the cushions I made for the lovely Sarah

Alas, Gozi & Pop did not get a mention but nice to see them up close.  I traced a flower from the wallpaper and appliqued it onto the teal coloured cushion and did the same with 3 love hearts on the white cushions.

My favourite vet, Dr Harry has also written an article about the super smart Jack Russell terriers.

Our little dog Polly is everything Dr Harry describes - tough, cheeky, always active, and here she is during our morning walk on sniffer patrol.

Hey look at those funny ears!

World Turtle Day..

You may recall I posted about 'a little turtle friend' back in April.  I took him along to one of the markets and somebody took a fancy to him and off he went to a new home.  My kids were insistent that I make another, my son chose the fabrics for his little turtle and this is how he turned out:

It also happens to be World Turtle Day today (23rd May 2012).  The date is used by experts around the globe to highlight the threat to the many turtle and tortoise species losing their habitat or being poached and smuggled internationally.  Melbourne Aquarium is celebrating World Turtle Day with activities and presentations.  You can read more here:  Melbourne Aquarium.

On a visit to Melbourne Zoo last year we were able to get up close to this gentle old giant snacking on carrots.  

The Zoo Keeper told us that Tortoises have 'beaks'.

Looks like he really enjoys his carrots, can you see his tongue sticking out?  He's licking his lips!!

"Huge numbers of turtles are being poached in Vietnam and Laos for illegal export to China, where they are traditionally believed to have medicinal properties", said Judith Henke, of Melbourne Zoo.  "Other turtle species native to South Asia and South-East Asia are also subject to smuggling, which has resulted in areas with no remaining turtle populations.

As turtles play a significant role within eco-systems, this is now seen as a crisis by environmental experts".

Some turtle facts:

Did you know that there was a Tortoise named 'Harriet' who lived to 176 years of age. She was a resident at Australia Zoo from 1987 to her death in 2006.

One of my favourite turtles would have to be 'Crush', the surf-cultured sea turtle from Finding Nemo

Fin, Noggin, Duuuude

Cool books and fabric heaven..

I've been catching up on the last couple of episodes of Offspring which always makes me feel like taking a walk around Brunswick and Fitzroy where the show is filmed. 

                               


 One of my favourite shops is Readings bookstore in Lygon Street, Brunswick.  I could easily spend an hour or two browsing all the shelves, there is such a great selection of books, with cool music playing in the background and the store is always buzzing with other book lovers.

They have a fantastic section of kids books too. I love kids books and some of the titles are sure to give a few giggles.

Further down Lygon Street in Brunswick East is a shop I have been wanting to check out for ages:  GJ's Discount Fabrics.  They have the biggest range of quilting fabrics I have come across so far, it is fabric lover's heaven.  

Even though it's on the other side of town for me, it was well worth the visit.  

Colourful cushions make great presents..

Finished these cushions just in time for two birthday parties this afternoon.  I really enjoy the process of going through my fabric stash, mixing and matching all the different patterns, and putting them all together.  Even my kids are getting into it, picking out their favourites and giving me their opinions on colours.  I love their enthusiasm.  I still have my very first sewing machine and may have to set it up in a little spot and give them some sewing lessons.  Although I think my son may go a little crazy on the pedal and pretend he's driving a racing car.

Try again...

One thing I have learnt about sewing, is that if you're not 100% happy with something, it is better to try to fix it before you go any further.

That's why this handy little 'unpicker' is my best friend in the sewing kit.  I'm making a large colourful patchwork cushion for a boy's birthday present and decided to try a pillowcase style opening in lieu of a zip or buttons, but it hasn't worked out the way I thought it would.  So I guess it will be a night in front of the TV with my handy little unpicker undoing all the stitches.
Oh well, there are always moments of frustration when you sew, and redoing it is just part of the process.  It is much better to do something well, then when it is finished there is a good feeling of accomplishment.

The Block 2012

I loved the Alphabet Wall Sophie and Dale created in the elimination round at The Block 2012.  Check it out here:  homes.ninemsn.com.au/theblock

I loved the look of the whole room and I'm really keen to see how they compete in the rest of the renovation challenge.
Today I had to go to South Melbourne, so couldn't resist having a drive past to check out the terrace houses in the competition.  They were finished a month ago so was able to take a couple of pics of the finished look from the front.  Don't look any further if you want to be surprised when it airs on TV in the coming weeks.

                                      I wonder whose house has the pink door?

                                                         I love the red door.

If you live in Melbourne and want to have a look then head down to Dorcas Street, South Melbourne (but you can't peek through any windows).

Mother's Day Stall

Tonight is "Girl's Night Out" at OLA - Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Primary School, Centre Dandenong Road, Cheltenham.

Starting at 7.30pm there will be a fashion parade, market stalls, mega raffle plus bubbles & nibbles.

Gozi & Pop will be there with some handmade goodies including these cute little houses.

Greetings from Melbourne...

Was in luck today to purchase the last few metres of this gorgeous cotton linen blend fabric.  It features iconic Melbourne imagery with Flinders Street Station, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the trams and, of course, coffee.  Haven't decided what I'm going to make yet, but maybe some cushions or a covered pin board would look good.  As other fabric lovers would understand, sometimes it's really hard to start cutting up your favourite fabric, so it may just sit at the top of my stash for a little while.

Better Homes & Gardens

Just in case you  missed the Renovation Challenge on Thursday night and would like to watch it, then you can by clicking here: http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/

It kinda feels cool to see Gozi & Pop cushions appear on the couch (the white & teal ones).

Go Team Pennydale!!

Tara's in the house..

If you watched Better Homes & Gardens last night you would have seen my friend Sarah with her  husband Simon and their two gorgeous boys compete in the '2 day Renovation Challenge'.

Sarah is one of the sweetest, funniest, bubbliest people I know so it was fantastic to see her working hard on the challenge.  On the last day of filming for the challenge we popped over to Sarah's house as the kids were really keen to meet Tara.  My daughter is a big fan of Tara's and was really chuffed to see her.  They saw a little bit of the filming then came running out of the house "Mum, mum, guess what!  Tara has two voices - a normal voice AND a television voice!"

When the time comes we will be voting for Sarah & Simon, and if you are reading this I hope you can vote too.

Oh yeah, there were some Gozi & Pop cushions on the couch too. The white & teal ones!

School Excursion..

On this cold, rainy Melbourne day I could have easily stayed cozy at home as I have plenty of things to sew, but instead I went with my daughter and her class on a school excursion.

We went by bus to the State Library which I haven't been to in years.  It is really interesting and is home to some of the most important items relating to Ned Kelly - his suit of armour, the original Jerilderie letter and his death mask.  The students also learnt about the early settlement days in Melbourne.  We also (very quietly) walked through the LaTrobe Reading Room with its magnificent Dome:

Then we had a nice brisk walk from the State Library down Swanston Street then Flinders Street to the Yarra River where we went on a river cruise to Williamstown.

Went past the Southern Star Observation Wheel which was pulled down in Jan 2009 due to major faults.  It's in the process of being completely rebuilt and will feature 21 enclosed air-conditioned glass cabins and an extensive LED lighting display which will provide stunning ever changing displays at night.

                                      Over 3,000 ships dock here in Melbourne each year.

This is the view from the back of the boat looking back at the city, we're almost at Williamstown.  Despite the drizzly weather it was a great day out and a reminder that I should play tourist in my own city more often.

Not to be missed...

This Thursday night (3rd May) I hope you can watch Better Homes & Gardens at 7.30pm on Channel 7. Can't tell you any more just yet, but check out the 'Renovation Challenge' - it will be very exciting!!!